Menopause

What to Expect from Menopause

All women eventually go through menopause — it is a natural part of your life cycle. During this natural process, your ovaries gradually function less and less as your body’s hormone levels that control the reproductive cycle decline. Eventually the release of eggs from the ovary ceases completely. Menopause generally occurs in women ages 48 to 52 years old, but that upper time frame has been seen to extend later into a woman’s 50s. The entire menopause process generally lasts about two years.

Just as with puberty, a woman’s body goes through many changes during menopause, but the effects of these changes vary widely among women. Although menopausal symptoms are usually temporary, they may interfere with a woman’s quality of life for a time if they are persistent or severe enough. Many dietary supplements and prescription medications are available to help alleviate these symptoms.

Many women report discomfort and symptoms associated with menopause such as:

Hot flashes, night sweats, disturbances of sleep or moods

Changes in sexual interest or in sexual responsiveness — be sure to report this to your doctor, as it could signal an underlying medical problem

Reduced vaginal lubrication (which can affect sexual desire)

Occurrence of pain with sexual activity

Development of medical conditions that were not exhibited before but run in a person’s family including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes (or pre-diabetic conditions), heart disease, and thyroid problems.

Increase in occurrence of vaginal infections or bladder infections

Urinary incontinence

Pelvic support problems involving the uterus, bladder or rectum

Osteoporosis and other bone density problems

Increased occurrence of various kinds of cancers

Your office visits during the time of menopause may include a discussion of your overall health, family medical issues, and health risks. We will coordinate your care with your primary physician or any specialists concerning if specific treatments, tests, or consultations are called for. As always, you’ll be in good hands at our practice.

Our Services Include:

Obstetrics

Obstetrics is the field of medicine devoted to caring for pregnant women up through labor and delivery to the postpartum period.
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Gynecology

Gynecology is the branch of medicine that administers health care to non-pregnant women.
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New Patients

New patients are always welcome. To schedule an appointment or to ask any questions about our Ob-Gyn services, please call our office at (910) 484-3101.
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